On Wednesday morning, New York-based writer Stephanie Smith managed to turn a humble side project into an international sensation -- for better or for worse -- by revealing the backstory behind her blog "300 sandwiches" in the New York Post.

In that essay, Smith reveals that she is in fact the author behind 300sandwiches.com -- a blog about a woman who has been promised an engagement ring from her live-in boyfriend, contingent on the fact that she makes him 300 sandwiches first.

When she reaches sandwich number 300, she hopes to get a proposal as promised.

'I'm 124 sandwiches away from an engagement ring'Since last June, a young woman has attracted attention from culinary world icons such as Emeril Lagasse, Michael White and Ken Friedman w...

Smith reveals how the idea came to be at the beginning of her post:

"Each morning, he would ask, 'Honey, how long you have been awake?'

"'About 15 minutes,' I'd reply.

'You've been up for 15 minutes and you haven't made me a sandwich?

"One lazy summer afternoon just over a year ago, I finally gave in. ... Eric devoured the sandwich ... 'Babes, this is delicious!' he exclaimed.

"As he finished that last bite, he made an unexpected declaration of how much he loved me and that sandwich: 'Honey, you're 300 sandwiches away from an engagement ring!' ...

"Maybe I needed to show him I could cook to prove that I am wife material. If he wanted 300 sandwiches, I'd give him 300 sandwiches -- and I'd blog about it."

Backlash to the piece was heated and swift. Within hours of the story being published, feminists were riling against Smith's blog, calling it everything from a "step back for women's rights," to flat out "desperate."

Sexism of #300Sandwiches is offensive, yes. I'm more grossed out by the desperate gimmicknessl-they're SO clearly seeking a movie/book deal.Andrea Hill

Read #300sandwiches. Great food blog. Unnerving relationship concept. Why do we still believe marriage is something women 'earn' from men?Nikki

Listening to women on the radio giggle about how cute #300Sandwiches is and I want to burn the marriage industrial complex to the ground.Kat

The most depressing thing about the whole #300Sandwiches thing, is that they all look pretty gross.Vampire Soup

"I certainly don't think a woman can't prepare her partner a meal without first considering whether or not she's supporting archaic gender roles, but to take the stupid 'Get in the kitchen and make me a sandwich,' quip and turn it into a 'cute' little game with the reward of something as serious as marriage at the end is just gross," wrote Megan Seling for The Stranger.

Jezebel's Erin Gloria Ryan agreed. "Stephanie Smith's attempts to pass her boyfriend's demands as somehow cute, like a big-eyed puppy in a vest scratching the door to go outside, only serve to make her situation sound worse," she wrote yesterday. "But I'm optimistic that these two crazy kids can make it work. After all, if a relationship between two thirty-somethings can't thrive on a combination of desperation and entitlement, then what hope do any of the rest of us have?"

"Some people read into the article too literally -- they truly think that if I get to 299 sandwiches, there could actually be a moment there where Eric may say, 'Eh, you didn't make enough steak sandwiches. I'm not sure you deserve a ring!'" she wrote. "The blog started as a lighthearted joke between boyfriend and girlfriend. I presented it to the world because I thought at least one person would find the humour in the idea of sandwiches for an engagement ring."

It's a blog, not a 'wich hunt!I met a guy. I made a sandwich. I started a blog. And I enraged feminists everywhere. On Wednesday, I wrote in The Post about how my boyf...

She's not alone in her thoughts. Many others have rushed to Smith's defense in light of all the criticism she has been recieving.

Saw the #300sandwiches piece on @TODAYshow, she's only doing what women have done since the start of time. Cooking is how I got my husbandEnchanted Events ATL

There's nothing sexier than a woman making a sandwich for her man. #relationships #300sandwiches #women #marriageThesis Himself

Love how people blow things out of proportion. The 300 sandwiches blog started as a cute inside joke and is now a creative & popular blog.The Logo

So many haters, leave the poor @300sandwiches woman alone! Who cares if she wants to make hundreds of sammies? Her prerogative! #.02Erin Siegal McIntyre

So this is on the internet today...I kind of like this whole idea to be honest, it's cute and silly and funny http://shine.yahoo.com/love-sex/naomi-wolf-on-300-sandwiches-blog--this-is-not-a-feminist-issue--173452383.htmlTiffani Torrez

What are your thoughts on the "300 sandwiches" project? Cute and quirky fun for one couple, or a bad example set forth for women? Share your take below.

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